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167 Drug Samples Fail Quality Tests in December, CDSCO Alert Reveals

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation declared 167 drug samples as 'Not of Standard Quality' in its December monthly alert. Central laboratories identified 74 failures, while state labs flagged 93 samples. Additionally, seven drug samples were identified as spurious, manufactured by unauthorized entities using legitimate brand names. The regulatory body states this surveillance demonstrates an active system to identify and remove substandard drugs from the market.

Key Points: 167 Drug Samples Declared 'Not of Standard Quality' by CDSCO

  • 167 drug samples declared NSQ in December
  • 74 flagged by Central labs, 93 by State labs
  • 7 additional samples identified as spurious drugs
  • Action taken to remove substandard drugs from market
2 min read

CDSCO labs flag 167 drug samples as 'not of standard quality' in December

CDSCO's December drug alert flags 167 samples as substandard and 7 as spurious. Central and state labs identified failures in quality parameters.

"These drugs were manufactured by unauthorised manufacturers using brand names owned by other companies - CDSCO Alert"

New Delhi, Jan 21

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation on Wednesday declared 167 drug samples tested by the Central and state drugs regulatory authorities as 'not of standard quality' in its monthly drug alert for December.

While the Central Drugs Laboratories identified 74 drug samples as NSQ, the State Drugs Testing Laboratories identified 93 drug samples as NSQ.

As per routine regulatory surveillance activity, the list of NSQ and spurious drugs is being displayed on the CDSCO portal on a monthly basis.

"For the month of December 2025, Central Drugs Laboratories have identified 74 Drug Samples to be Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) and State Drugs Testing Laboratories have identified 93 Drug Samples as Not of Standard Quality (NSQ)," the alert said.

Identification of drug samples as NSQ is done based on failure of the drug sample in one or more of the other specified quality parameters.

The failure is specific to the drug products of the batch tested by the government laboratory, and it does not warrant any concerns about the other drug products available in the market.

Further, in December, "four drug samples from North Zone, Ghaziabad, one drug sample from FDA Ahmedabad, one drug sample from Bihar, and one drug sample from Maharashtra were identified as spurious drugs," the alert said.

"These drugs were manufactured by unauthorised manufacturers using brand names owned by other companies," it added, while noting that the matter is under investigation and action will be taken as per the Act & Rules.

This action of identifying NSQ and spurious medicines is taken regularly in collaboration with state regulators to ensure that these drugs are identified and removed from the market, demonstrating an active, strong, and responsive regulatory system in the country.

In December, the CDSCO declared 205 drug samples tested by the Central and state drugs regulatory authorities as 'Not of Standard Quality (NSQ)'.

While the Central Drugs Laboratories identified 64 drug samples as NSQ, the State Drugs Testing Laboratories identified 141 drug samples as NSQ.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see the system is working and catching these sub-standard drugs. The spurious ones are the real danger - fake manufacturers using real brand names. Hope the investigation leads to strict action. Our family always buys from reputable chemists, but still makes you worry. 😟
A
Aman W
The article says it's specific to the batches tested, but public confidence takes a hit. We are the 'pharmacy of the world'. Such reports, while necessary for safety, can damage our global reputation if not managed properly. Quality control has to be the top priority, no compromise.
S
Sarah B
As someone who relies on regular medication, this is scary. The monthly alert system is a good step for transparency. But how quickly are these batches actually removed from all pharmacies, especially in smaller towns? The gap between identification and removal is critical.
V
Vikram M
Respectfully, while the CDSCO is doing its job, the numbers seem high. Last month was 205, this month 167. Is the testing methodology consistent? We need a deeper analysis - which therapeutic categories are failing most? Is it antibiotics, chronic disease meds? Public deserves more detailed data.
N
Nisha Z
My father is a diabetic. News like this makes me double-check every strip we buy. Kudos to the state and central labs for the surveillance. Hope the message reaches every corner seller. Jago Grahak Jago should run ads on this too! 👍

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